More than ever before, young people in the poorest countries feel the lure of greater opportunities beyond their borders. Indeed, the scale of migration driven by international inequality is so huge that it could make nations as we know them obsolete.

In Exodus, bestselling author Paul Collier makes a powerful case for the ethical legitimacy of restricting migration in the interests of both sending and receiving societies. Drawing on original research and numerous case studies, Collier explores this volatile issue from a unique, triple perspective: of the migrants themselves, of the people they leave behind, and of the host societies where they relocate. Those who migrate from the poorest countries tend to be the best educated and most energetic young people in their cultures. And while migrants themselves benefit economically, the larger impacts of mass migrations remain unsettling. The danger is that both host countries and sending societies may lose their national identities. Collier suggests that such an outcome would be disastrous Because national identity is a powerful force for equity. Collier asserts that migration must be restricted to ensure that it helps those left behind in sending countries and benefits host societies which have made the investment on which migrant gains rely.

Sharply written and brilliantly argued, Exodus offers a provocative analysis on one of the most pressing issues of our time.